One of them is lying: Mbalula hits back at Khoza over police response to her death threats

Who do you believe here?

Wednesday saw ANC MP Makhosi Khoza take to Facebook to call out Police Minister Fikile Mbalula for “Publicly lying” about contacting her. Khoza slammed the minister and SAPS for the lack of response to the death threats her and her family were receiving. Mbalula has today hit back.

Mbalula released a statement insisting that he “takes the security of elected public representatives and that of all ordinary residents in the republic as a very serious matter – this includes Honourable Khoza.”

Referring to the numerous political assassinations and violence in KwaZulu-Natal, the minister highlighted how political assassinations could destroy SA’s democracy.

“Our mandate in this regard is therefore to be seen in two; that is the protection of all persons and the protection of our democracy itself.”

“It is in this vein that I, outside of the media glare, as these things should be, have attended to the issues relating to Honorable Khoza and at an operational level have taken it serious and kept check on the cases reported by Honourable Khoza to police.”

“Her matter was immediately transferred to a Commissioned Officer because of its seriousness. An assessment on her security was conducted and this assessment was constantly looked at whilst the criminal threats to her life were investigated. She was not “left alone”, even if she didn’t know about it.”

Mbalula also said that SAPS investigated and concluded that the threats to Khoza’s daughter were in fact “no threat at all”.

He goes on to accuse Khoza of “refusing to engage with us directly but through Facebook.” As for his and SAPS’ calls to Khoza’s office? Those have apparently “not yielded the result we had hoped for”.

The minister insists that even if Khoza does not get in touch with him, SAPS will still look at ways to help her, “even without her involvement”. Mbalula also took the time to clarify his controversial “suicide bomber” comments. He originally made the comments when referring to ANC MP’s who would vote against the ANC and Zuma in the motion of no confidence.

“As I stated then, the decisions relating to who defies who or what does not enter in the question of law and order where an individual’s life is under physical threat. Political disagreements must never lead to harm and loss of life or injury.”

“It also goes without saying that a party member who openly decides to defy party instructions or constitution or rules, such a person destroys their party career, they themselves kill such a career. I used the phrase, “suicide bombing her ANC career” in this strict context.”

So, folks, we have a great example of a two sided story here. Khoza says that Mbalula and SAPS have not made multiple attempts to contact her. While on the other hand, the minister says that Khoza has refused to engage them directly.

The last word? Mbalula says “It is time for all concerned to pull together and cooperate professionally”.